Discovered in 1987 by D. Henson along a springy ditch and in adjacent seepy mixed forests with Micranthes pensylvanica in Ontonagon Co. Whether this is a native disjunct from western North America or an introduction is an open question.

Our very showy specimens represent only one of the many variants known of this species, so common and widespread in the West, where populations differ in nature (or absence) of pubescence, size of flowers, and other characters. Plants are usually much more erect and taller than our other three yellow-flowered species.